I Do hangs in and rewrites records
DURABLE GREY mare I Do became Waikato Stud’s most winning racehorse with her classy victory in the $50,000 Tauranga Classic yesterday.
The win, her 13th in the famous Waikato Stud colours, saw her surpass the 12 wins notched during the 1980s by the outstanding Noel Eales-trained Lady Aloof.
I Do is raced by her New Plymouth trainer, Allan Sharrock, and Waikato Stud’s Mark Chittick and, when the time comes, they will be hoping she can emulate Lady Aloof in the broodmare paddock.
The Sir Godfrey mare has established a dynasty for Waikato Stud, with daughters Slight Chance, Slightly Aloof and Snobbish producing many top offspring.
But before that happens I Do still has some goals her connections would like her to achieve on the track.
The first is to attempt a Group One victory – and the target is the Captain Cook Stakes in December – preceded by a crack at winning the Taranaki Thoroughbred Breeders a race she ran second in last year to Postman’s Daughter.
The lightly framed No Excuse Needed mare was able to compre- hensively turn the tables yesterday on Postman’s Daughter who rattled home strongly for second ahead of the dead-heaters Amberio and Better Keeper.
She took 1:27.84 to run the 1400m on the testing, going with 21⁄ lengths to spare at the line.
I Do will now enjoy a break and a consort with leading Waikato Stud stallion, Savabeel, in the spring before her next campaign, which will be her last.